Test Drive Citroen C3 since 2002 Hatchback

Phlegmatic, sanguine, choleric

It is no secret that any items and things surrounding a person, even the simplest, from everyday help, for example, a chair, a cup or boots usually not only satisfy some removed consumer requirements, but also, as a rule, meet the style, tastes and temperament of your owner. And almost first of all, such requirements are presented to the car, which is a kind of reflection of the ideas of its master about the world, and also either serves as a business card, passing in its circle, or vice versa disguises the true essence of the individual. The main thing is not to be mistaken with the choice so that you do not have to play someone else's own role.
 
Small machines by definition of utilitarian and inexpensive. This is the first stereotype. The second: on compacts they travel predominantly a weak floor representative. Another thing: since the car is cheap, primitively staffed. I do not suggest refuting these statements with foam at the mouth, but doubt it would still put. After all, following well-established canons alternately narrows the horizons of knowledge Sorry for the pack. And we, journalists, for latitude of views!
The continuous increase in the popularity of cars with more and more modest sizes was noted in Europe immediately after the second world, and in the backward America in the 70s, which was due to a number of reasons. There is also an affordable price, energy crisis, and infinite traffic jams, and an increase in the ratio of useful volume, and excess weight taxes. Yes, you never know what else! But there is one reason that is imparted by arrogant and recently recently reached compatriots: in the long-established society with the dominant Catholic and, especially, Protestant morality advertising his welfare of a bad tone. This is done only by nouveau, aggravated by the complexes of a boy who eats into people seeking the size and aggressiveness of the vehicle to compensate their past failures, humiliation and current fears. The mature, established personality is much closer category of reasonable sufficiency than the category of prestigiousness. And the long-awaited increase in sales of kids class into this testimony of a new, normal, civilized and adequate attitude to its own positioning in life.
With the seeming latitude of choice, direct competitors in size, price and freshness in this class are not so much. But, seeking to take the most unlike the models, we have chosen on the next Trinity: Citroen C3, Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo. All with gasoline engines 1400 cm3 and mechanical gearboxes. And otherwise their technical parameters are amazingly close, but in the image of cars as much as possible. Now it remains to find out the main thing: does the first impression correspond to the appearance, the essence of the subject, and how exact and far from the calculations of the creators?
   
Dynamics Despite modest energy transport, no one about whom from the Trinity cannot be said: it goes and thanks for taking a wretched! Machines for rarity cheer, merry. But all three are asked high revolutions to demonstrate a decent urban pace. Perhaps only the Fiesta is acceptable to pull on medium turnover. But this advantage bots on the fact that she willingly stall at the start, the clutch pedal falls extremely carefully and parallel to be slightly podging. Against this background, competitors are much more convenient especially polo, on which the clutch can be safe. Yes, and to switch here, one pleasure of doubt about which transmission stuck, does not arise. Ford is also quite impaired, but the Citroen immediately determine the position of a short and rather remote-removed lever, the KP is not always possible. But the C3 is the most quiet, well, the VW makes the sound of a basking motor. In the struggle with the incoming air flow, there were no complaints to anyone.
I'm not sure whether in the high-speed heading to write about the presence of a site for the left leg, but the Fiesta does not have it in principle a feet even the average size is categorically not placed in the gap between the pedal and the upholstery, and the leg is simply nowhere, except to bring to themselves. I could not get used to this. But POLO is definitely too long the length of the left pedal, as well as most Volkswagenov. And he still does not want to overclock it at all, the country speeds when you go 120 km / h, it seems that it is hard to work. But Fordik is literally rushing into battle on the track even forget about its modest sizes and whether they are not worse than on some mondeo. C3 has a distinctive feature characteristic of more expensive models and indirectly related to movement in a straight line, especially at high speeds. I mean the obsessive and nasty buzzer, which signals the uneasy safety belts. Of course, you curse him when you sit behind the wheel, in order to only park or get a hundred meters along the alley, but also disciplines the device great. Although it is on Citroen that there is a way to shut down the squeezing by clicking on the red disgust button, you will deceive the control system, but we don't have it, categorical supporters of belts, you do not recommend. From the point of view of braking, all young people, which is not surprising with a small weight. But the most effective and informative brakes appeared on the Fiese. And C3 manifested himself the most cousing, he willingly bow out when reforming until it stops.
Controllability will begin in the increasing: Polo, though it falls out of turn, makes it not flowing from the trajectory at all. He is generally the most predictable of all and, if you forget about the limit modes, performs commands more competitors. VW not only correctly ruling, but also perfectly switches the transmission. It is also conveniently satisfied with all the other opening of the doors, the work of the steering wheel switches, etc., by the way, it was on POLO that a triple blink was provided when totnnels are provided as in the senior relatives. Although it is precisely this dignity just not always to the place you are already smoking in someone else's row, and the flasher continues to ask someone about mercy.
Fiesta, maybe a little less adequate to the driver teams at least it performs all actions with minimal, barely tangible, delay, but as if closer to life, more fun. I even caught myself comparing her with a focus passing in our editors long-term resource tests, cute and familiar to me in many nuances of behavior. The most amazing thing is that its size and opportunity seemed to me even unnecessary in comparison with a more compact relative! Yes, yes, in the urban time, modest sizes are preferable, and I would not refuse to constantly ride a piping, especially such a three-door, caaba is not a value that is noticeably higher than the focus. It is explained by this simply Vsevolozhsk cars go on a special, reduced price, and car class C interrupts the youngest sister.
Citroen, in their behavior, is completely different from others. First of all, it has a much coolest angle of rotation of the front wheels. On the scale of the entire length of the machine, the radius of the reversal is not too much decreased, but how C3 demolides the face of the Welcome with the steering as possible, produces a big impression to get out of the most close parking, it is possible for one or twice. In addition, the tse-third is extremely accurate and sensitive in maneuver. This contributes to an electric power steering with a changeable variable depending on the speed of force. And it is quite surprising that the car remains almost horizontal when passing even serious aggregates, where competitors are desperately squeezed with tires, and after all it is noticeably higher, and in theory should be prone to the roll. A spoonful of the tar, though a tea, we can assume that C3 is very low and easily chims the bottom behind the protrusions of what is sometimes called dear. Polo and Fiesta are noticeably higher, especially the last, jumping over the borders on Ford is almost painless for the thresholds.
Ergonomics from Citroen is very expressive and a kind of salon, he seemed to us from the future or from the experimental laboratory of the interior decoration. And to the touch materials are no less friendly and are combined not only in colors, but also by texture and rigidity. There are competitors to traditionalists before it is far both to China with a rear. Of course, the C3 skate can be considered a digital instrument panel, where the semicircular scale of the tachometer A La 50s frames the large numbers of the speed indicator performed in the angular style of the 70s. Eclectically, but expressively, and that the speedometer indicators do not rip in the eyes, they are slightly slowed down, they have been accustomed to such a method of perception of information literally for half an hour.
Finishing Fiesta does not cause any complaints and simply does not climb into the eyes, like a well-stitched costume, which is obliged to be not too notable. But the Salon ROULO is designed as if we were forever frozen at the level of square design of the 80s such archaic, perhaps, not to find a car on one now. Volkswagensky cocktail looks like this: boring flat door panels, a stylish four-spoke faceted steering wheel under a fashionable semicircular visor and torpedo, it seems to be borrowed from Golf 2. On his background, the Noodle C3 and the Fiesta is fundamentally more interesting, but that still pleased with the VW handrails on the doors under the door Natural grip.
With a visibility at a class in problems should not be by definition, but here are fine outer mirrors of Citroen leave the dead zones on the sides. Although, if you look ahead, C3 gives something from what we lookedched in recent years, when the front racks in favor of fashion and streamliers are moving closer to the driver's face. And the smaller the distance to them, the greater the review sector they eat. So, at the tricks of the arched arc racks are located a lot further from you than it is now accepted! From Polo, such a story in a circle is visible everything perfectly, and then the review is cut off with the top edge of the glass of the fifth door, and in the distance, you can only look at the back through the side mirrors. In addition to rainy weather, when you have to activate the front wipers, the right leash in the largest point of your cracker turns out right in front of the driver's nose and for a moment freezing. This constantly loyal janitor annoys much more than the left, which is observed only in motion.
The driver is always important how he is sitting in the chair, as far as the controls are arranged. And it turns out that Ford has no adjustment of the steering column on departure, and it is necessary to either stretch to the ram, or to move too close. And before hanging on the middle rack, the three-door car (so it got to the test) of the seat belt at all. In C3, you constantly cling to the right sleeve for a swaying end button with sharp edges on the janitor switch, which duplicates the magnetic volume adjustment. In addition, on a nice heart, this heart whose enemy hand attracted armrests (though, only as an option). They are narrow-proponant, and the elbow is unlikely to relax on them, simply because it is inevitably clenched, but they prevent them quite specifically, and they are constantly upered to the sleeve, because of the movement upwards, they still holds a light weight nor the lack of a damper in swivel hinge.
Practicality What other practicality can have a tightly shot down purely urban machinery? Well, for example, you can fold the second row of seats and download something to measure cumbersome. At first glance, there are no problems, only it is worth considering that the French has only a back, although in parts, and the pillow remains still, which does not allow to turn the floor of the luggage compartment into the plane. In addition, there is quite fragile plastic here, and there is a real risk to damage it. But in an excuse, it is worth noting that the Citroenchik is wider than everyone sprinkle to the mouth of an odd luggage door and willingly takes the number of junk for its dimensions. But for the rides of the second row of C3, it is not too spacious in length, but it is the highest, so if you have to sit down there with tall passengers, you can shift the front armchairs and achieve a compromise. In comparison with it and polo, and the peese is noticeably lower and sensitively pressure on the head with rear passengers, but along the Ford leg length is somewhat preferable. Volkswagen has another feature an abundance of small tanks in the cabin. I counted 11 (eleven!) Pockets, gloves and boxes located in the front seats zone. What to put there? Cigarettes? Chewing? Notepads? It is still a bit, even for banquets. Although someone will heat the soul ... I must say, Citroen even in simple versions has a lot of free options and a good stereo system, and electric welded mirrors and four airbags. But VW got to us in a completely ascetic version, but since the car had already rolled a year and a half and twenty-five thousand, then it is worth explaining that now this version is not supplied to us. Of course, you can order ROULO empty as a drum and patiently wait for it three to four months, but for a reasonable surcharge about $ 1000 offers a modification with a whole package of services, and they are much cheaper than if you recruit them. That's what tough package means! And Fiesta visited us in the most topical configuration, so it is not easy to estimate it. On the one hand, because the light skin salon bribes and makes the world outside the window lighter and happier even in the gloomy winter noon, and on the other, because the price of a specific, fully puffed car seems exemptently high. And it is worth turning your attention on the line price from ...
Summary conclusions that are usually the hardest to squeeze out of themselves, this time are simple and concise. It is quite difficult to compete in this race: the machine is completely ordinary and even archaic. Although it is not excluded, this is exactly what will attract some buyers for which a despicable form is nothing compared to the content and alleged folks quality. C3 his explicit antipode, whose cheerful appearance will not allow to stay on the road unnoticed. In addition, I promise you many hours of unforgettable pleasure, until the machine becomes quite familiar, which inevitably happens even with extremely extraordinary objects. And then get ready for what you have to look for a source of inspiration at the wheel. Fiesta, in my opinion, combines in a reasonable proportion to the share of healthy practicism-traditionalism and a cheerful, non-piece temper. True, it is expensive. But truth, as you know, most often lies in the middle.

HOW DO THEY LOOK
Nikita Rozanov
Outside: According to your design, all the cars presented in the test car, however, with the exception of Citroen C3, the names of the Kids from VW and Ford are familiar to the buyer without a small three decades. During this time, the appearance and Polo, and Fiesta, of course, changed seriously and more than once, but now a couple of long-livers looks fresh and well recognized in the stream. For several years, Citroen products, alas, did not differ in bright and outrageous design, but today the firm is actively fighting for the return of the past positions in this area. As a result, the face and the silhouette of the C3 are most characteristic of the island. Thanks to this class, a four-chapter optics, the POLO face also cannot be called, but this is perhaps the only bright line of the car. Fiesta design, especially in the 3-door version, is very harmonious and modern. It is curious, because Ford still exploits its own know-how New Edge style (new facet), which celebrated his decade this year.
Inside: inside the solution is very close, and the similarity of design designs is manifested most noticeably because they are one year old ... The instrument panels of the whole Trinity almost repeat the same composite theme and shape, and if they are also present for a minute, the dark top light How it is done on Citroen, and remove emblems from the rolls, then the product can be identified, probably, only the authors of the design and experts. Fords even forgot about their native New Edge, well-worked in the interiors of the Ka and Focus models ... What is globalization? But national features are still difficult to hide: French character is also manifested in a non-traditional door closing handle, the design of diphroster locks and a combination of devices a la scooter. Is it difficult to get used to? No problem! This is the answer of German designers. The driver VW problems are really not all horizontally and right, however, without emotions.
Summary: The emotional component of modern automotive design is becoming increasingly significant. At the same time, the appearance of the car modifies a lot calmer than its inner space. But there are exceptions. In our case, this design Citroen C3. But maybe you still fit Polo?
Text Vladimir Smirnov photo Alexander Nozdrin
 

 

A source: Cars